USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 14
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117
IHISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
The Sunday school has an enrollment of about one hundred, and the follow- ing are its officers: C. V. Samuelson. superintendent ; and Albert Peterson, secretary.
The officers of the Ladies' Aid Society are Mrs. Anna Blomberg, president and Mrs. Axel Should, secretary.
The following have served as pastors of the church: Rev. C. II. Lundin, Rev. Pearson. Rev. Ernst Lindholm, Rev. G. F. Gilberg, and Rev. Oscar Wenstrand, who is the present pastor.
THE SWEDISH EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH.
The early history and organization of the Swedish Free church has been unobtainable ; but it is quite probable that the society was formed some time dur- ing the early '80s.
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The society now owns a church building. a parsonage, and seven lots. There is an enrollment of seventy-eight members, led by the pastor, Rev. Albert W. Carlson. Carl Erickson is president of the church. F. O. Hagstrom, secretary, and Peter Nordine, cashier. Ehner Wahlsted, Albert Wahlsted. A. M. Danielson, August Anderson. and F. O. Hagstrom constitute the board of trustees.
The Sunday school has a membership of fifty-six under fifteen years of age, the total enrollment being seventy-five. Carl Erickson is superintendent, Nellie Erickson, secretary and Henning Carlson, cashier.
The officers of the Young People's Society are: President, Rev. A. W. Carlson : secretary, Jessie Lindberg; treasurer. Erick Pederson.
Mrs. August Anderson is president of the Ladies Aid Society and Mary Johnson is secretary and treasurer.
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Church Society of Albert City was organized abont 1902. under the leadership of C. W. Flint. who then held the Methodist church pastorate in Marathon. The society leases the Swedish Free church, and all services are held in this place. The enrollment numbers seventeen members. and the officers are as follows: E. A. Foval. L. Chamberlain. Ray Sprague, .J. A. Pyles, and J. W. Doxsee, who constitute the board of trustees.
The Sunday school has a membership of fifty, with Rev. H. L. Case as superintendent, and Mable Foval, secretary.
The services of the church are conducted by Rev. Il. L. Case, who is pastor of the Methodist church at Marathon, the Albert City church being included in the Marathon charge.
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118
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH AT HANOVER.
One of the most wealthy German communities in lowa is located in the sonthwestern part of Buena Vista county and the nearby townships of Cherokee, Ida and Sac counties. Some of the pioneers came to the fertile and beautiful Maple Valley in 1870, and since then the colony has gradually extended and increased in wealth, until it now numbers more than five hundred souls.
The German Lutheran church, located in the midst of this settlement, was organized in the fall of 1879 by the following gentlemen: William Schmidt, Carl Schuelke, Carl Fett, Louis Bumann, Carl Getzmeier, August Kaskey, John Hans, Fred Seehagen, and Henry Hoffmeier. Of these William Sehmidt, August Kaskey and Carl Schuelke constituted the first official board, and two of these gentlemen are still members of the church. In September, 1880, the first church, the size of which was twenty-four by thirty-six, was dedicated. having been built the preceding summer. But as the number of members rapidly increased another church was found necessary. which was built in 1889, and is the present church. This building is thirty-eight by seventy-two, and was dledieated in October of that year. The first church is now used as a school- house and stands to the south of the church.
The first pastor was William Grunn, who served from 1880 to 1883. was succeeded by Philip Dornseif, who remained five years. In 1889 Rev. Henry Wehking was called and he has faithfully served for twenty years, being the present pastor. The official board today is composed of C. Zwemke, J. Otto, William Ell, G. Miller, Fred Kaskey. HI. Hinkledey: William Schmidt is treasurer and J. Schmidt is secretary. There are one hundred and fifteen families connected with the church, and four Imindred and ninety-five is the mimber of communicants.
In May, 1906, a beautiful pipe organ was dedicated with appropriate services. Prof. J. Schmidt is organist of the church.
The parochial school conducted in connection with the church has always been well attended, and in the spring of 1900 a second schoolhouse was erected four miles southeast of the church. Both schools are now taxed to their capacity.
The teachers who have been in charge of the schools are JJohn Eschenbacher, who resided there from 1888 to 1890. Jacob Schmidt came that year and is still in charge of the educational work. In the second school Lydia Zimmerman taught from 1900 to 1902, Martin Boesche in 1903. Albert Siebert in 1904, Martin Heinke and Walter Beeker in 1905, and since then Welhelmine Wehking, who is the present teacher. The number of scholars is one hundred and twelve.
Rev. Wehking is president, and several of his parishioners are of the official board of the German Lutheran hospital at Sioux City. It is a contented and prosperous community, and the church is the center about which all things that are for the best of the people are grouped.
119
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA . COUNTY
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH IN BROOKE.
The Evangelieal St. John's church in Brooke township is a branch of the German Evangelical Synod of North America, and was organized on April 17, 1888, by Rev. Mr. Miner of LeMars. This was in response to a demand by some of the leading German farmers of the township who wished a church in the strong German settlement which had been made some years previous to this date. Among the men who organized the congregation were Christ. Felten. Sr., William Mohror, Carl Plagman, William Plagman, C. Il. Felten, F. Fastenow, C. Kracht, William Mneller, John Grapenthin, William Fastenow. Il. Achterberg, F. Mohror and Ch. Plagman.
A commodions church was at once erected on section 17, in the center of the German settlement. and a call was extended to Rev. J. Jans, who served the congregation from 1888 to 1890. Rev. E. Laible succeeded him and served for two years, being followed by Rev. G. Meinzer, who remained until 1898. Rev. C. Bendigkeit came in 1898 and remained until 1901. Rev. E. Ilansen was called the same year and served until 1903, when Rev. R. Lorenz suereeded him and is the pastor at this time.
The present official board consists of G. Mohror, president; Ch. Mohror, vice president ; J. Grapenthin, cashier and C. W. Plagman, secretary.
There are forty members and one hundred and forty communicants enrolled in the membership of the church.
A German school is connected with the church, which is taught by the pastor from November until April of each year. 3 This is located near the parsonage. which adjoins the church grounds. It is well attended by children from the neighborhood, who are thus grounded in the German mother tongue, which would otherwise soon be forgotten.
The property of the congregation is valued at about seven thousand dollars, and its affairs are in a prosperous condition.
ST. JOHN'S CONGREGATION IN GRANT.
The Evangelical St. John's congregation in Grant township was organized . by Rev. C. A. Heldberg in 1888 as a branch of the German Evangelical Synod of North America. Among those who took part in the organization of the society were H. Behrens, II. Brummer, W. Gerberding. Fred Griffel. D. Griffel, William Boese, Fred Boese, Fr. Lehmkuhl and II. Mehlhop.
The church has enjoyed a steady growth since its organization and has had resident pastors continously. Among those who have served as pastor are C. HIeldberg. L. Frank, H. Haupt, O. Kraft. R. Lorenz, J. Herlinger and R. Sehmiehen, the last named being the present pastor.
The present official board consists of G. Sorby, II. Mehlhop, II. Griffel, W. Sievers. A. Beckfeld and II. Ullrich. The number of communieants at the
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120
IHISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
present time is about one hundred. The congregation holds property vamed at five thousand dollars, including the church, parsonage and school.
Parochial school is taught by the pastor from fall until Easter of each year, and is well attended by the children of the church.
GROWTH OF THE COUNTY.
The first mention of Buena Vista county in the census returns of the state of Iowa occurs in the Federal census of 1860 when an unofficial estimate is made of fifty-seven people. In the state census of 1856 and 1859 no returns were made. In the state census of 1863 an unofficial estimate is made of one hundred people and in 1865 the same report is made, showing no growth in two years.
In the state census of 1867 we find the following report and the first official count :
BUENA VISTA COUNTY.
Males 87
Females 64
Total 151
Number of dwellings 29
This is the returns from Barnes township, that including the entire county for governmental purposes. In 1869 the state census shows the following re- port. also from Barnes township :
BUENA VISTA COUNTY.
Males 132
Females 110
Total 242
Number of dwellings 54
The first report, for 1860. gives the population as follows: Males over twenty-one years of age, sixteen ; females over fifteen years of age, twelve; males under twenty-one years old. twenty; females under twenty-one years old, nine. Total fifty-seven.
Since 1870 the census returns have been accurate, as they have been taken with care and have not been based on estimates. They show a steady growth until the year 1905 when this county, in common with all rural counties in the state, showed a decrease in population. due largely to a great immigration to the Dakotas, Minnesota and other new states.
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
121
NINTII FEDERAL CENSUS 1870.
Township
Total
Native
Foreign
Barnes
233
129
104
Brooke
71
51
20
Coon
385
278
107
Lee
302
244
58
Sioux Rapids (town)
61
33
28
Nokomis
278
228
50
Poland
60
47
13
Storm Lake
256
204
52
Total
1646
1214
432
TENTHI FEDERAL CENSUS 1880.
Barnes
315
Brooke
223
Coon
379
Elk
571
Fairfield
234
Grant
248
Hayes
371
Lee
393
Lincoln
127
Maple Valley
657
Newell, town
348
Newell, including town
760
Nokomis township, including Alta
1081
Alta town
423
Poland
133
Providence
376
Seott
239
Storm Lake, city
co-extensive
1034
Storm Lake, township
Washington
396
ELEVENTH FEDERAL CENSUS OF 1890.
Barnes
795
Brooke
539
Coon
614
122
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Elk
782
Fairfield
602
Grant
572
Hlayes
669
Lee
461
Lincoln
746
Newell, including town of Newell
1107
Town of Newell
540
Nokomis, including town of Alta
1608
Town of Alta
768
Poland
683
Providence
648
Scott
534
Sioux Rapids, including city of Sioux Rapids
650
Storm Lake, co-extensive with city of Storm Lake
1682
Washington
577
Total 13548
TWELFTH FEDERAL CENSUS FOR 1900.
Townships
Towns
Barnes
1054
....
Brooke
585
....
Coon
716
. ...
Elk
680
... .
Fairfield
861
Grant
717
...
Hayes
463
....
Lee
620
....
Lincoln
541
. .. .
Maple Valley
770
. . ..
Newell township
713
....
Newell city
762
762
Nokomis township
794
Aita city
86
861
Poland township
758
Marathon, city
659
659
Providence
868
....
Scott
577
...
Sionx Rapids
1005
1005
Storm Lake township
250
Storm Lake, city
2169
2169
Washington
552
...
Total
16975
. .
123
IIISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
STATE CENSUS FROM 1875 TO 1905 BY DECADES.
1905
1895
1885
1875
Barnes
1011
862
542
270
Rembrandt City
68
Not organized
Brooke
546
560
434
68
Coon
601
644
434
239
Elk
622
687
760
265
Fairfield
751
687
370
91
Albert City, town
202
Not organized
Grant
674
652
435
115
llaves
415
408
435 Co-extensive
with Storm Lake
Lee
599
496
267
275
Lincoln
481
410
165
90
Maple Valley
687
767
680
233
Newell
584
630
530
432
Newell town
660
694
456 Co-extensive
with township
Nokomis
718
822
928
410
Alta town
961
875
764 Co-extensive
with Nokomis township
Poland
590
542
279
83
Marathon
526
453 Unorganized, not reported
Providence
665
654
610
169
Scott
558
625
413
105
Storm Lake township
300
248 Co-extensive with Storm Lake
Storm Lake city
2339
1924
1639
716
Sionx Rapids
917
795
616 Not organized
Washington
532
594
673
Total
15907
15029
11530
3561
ยท
MARATHON.
The town of Marathon is located in the northeast part of the county, on the Chieago & Northwestern and the Milwaukee railroads. By the eensus of 1905 it showed a population of five hundred and twenty-six, and like almost all Iowa towns a decrease from the Federal census of 1900.
In 1881 it was believed that a narrow gauge railroad would be built from Spirit Lake to connect with the Illinois Central railroad and the Milwaukee roads south, and that this road would pass through the middle of Lee township. There were at that time ambitions citizens living in Poland township who wanted to establish a town, and by voting a bonus of five per cent. the original plans of
124
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
the projected road were changed and the road was surveyed to come through Poland township instead. The Chicago & Northwestern surveyed through the same year and was easily pursnaded to establish a town on the site which had been selected for the Narrow Gauge road.
In 1882 C. A. Carlburg built a blacksmith shop on the corner where the First National Bank now stands and this was the first building on the future site of the town. ITis shop burned down soon after it was built, but by the help of neighboring farmers who wanted the convenience afforded by the shop, it was rebuilt. Several additional buildings were erected the same year. Stephen Olney, Sr .. who settled in Poland township, near Pickerel Lake ten years before and who was a progressive, wide awake man, and had had a leading part in building up the county, became the town's first merchant, building across the street east from Carlburg's shop. J. E. Dutton established the first lumber yard and Wells Brothers the first elevator and coal yard.
Some years before the post office department had established a postoffice near Pickerel Lake called Mayview and this was moved, in 1882, to the site of the new town. The Northwestern railway called the station "Marathon" and this classical Greek nomenclature has been followed in laying out the streets of the town. Richard Olney, son of Stephen, was the first postmaster and the first station agent of the town. Eleven years later, or in 1893. the town was incorporated, the date of the first meeting of the city authorities being March 11.
The first city officials were A. R. Wells, mayor: S. T. Goltry, recorder; M. E. De Wolf, treasurer: J. A. Smith, assessor: L. J. Sample, marshal and street commissioner. Geo. W. Smith, Peter Ilallen, F. Ekstam. L. W. Wilson and A. A. Anderson were the first members of the city council.
Since then S. T. Goltry, N. M. Nelson. G. W. Smith, W. W. Bennett, Olof Ovren and Joel E. Johnson have served as mayor.
The officers of the town in 1909 are Joel E. Johnson, mayor; F. O. Daniel- son, clerk; E. B. Wells, treasurer; N. Patterson, assessor; L. C. Hemsworth, J. O. Humphries, A. A. Wells, Godfred Carlson. A. A. Anderson and R. H. Ohney members of the council.
The town grew steadily from 1882 until 1900, when a new impetus was V given by the coming of the Milwaukee railroad. The old survey that had been made almost twenty years before was never forgotten by railroad men who wanted a direct route from Des Moines to Spirit Lake, and the connecting link between Fonda and Spencer was the only thing needed to give through service. Marathon was in direct line, the town was a good shipping point, and in the fall of 1900 the road was built through the eastern part of the town. Following the railway the citizens took on new energy.
In 1901 the business men raised the money and put in a fine gas plant to furnish light and heat io consumers. The town was also lighted by gas street lights. In 1902 the town voted to build a water works system, the J. A. White Compressed Air system being selected. In 1904 and 1905 a sewerage system was put in which has aided materially in preserving the sanitation and health of the community.
The Marathon Improvement Company was incorporated in 1900 and one of the first acts the company did was to build a modern hotel and block of business
125
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
blocks. At the same time private individuals also erected fine brick business buildings to replace the old wooden structures erected in the early days of the town and the west side of the main business street presents a metropolitan appearance with its handsome business institutions.
In 1902 the Odd Fellows lodge voted to build an opera house and a home for the lodges of the town and this was done. A handsome structure, forty- four by eighty feet. three stories high. was erected on the principal business street. The theater is located on the ground floor where the finest stage and auditorium in the county may be seen. On the upper floor a handsomely appointed suite of lodge rooms, including an assembly hall, reception rooms, kitchens, paraphernalia lockers and property rooms is located. The entire structure would be a credit to towns ten times the size of Marathon.
The first bank in Marathon was opened by Olney & Bean in 1885, and was known as the Marathon Bank. In 1888 Sherman T. Goltry bought Mr. Olney's interest and the firm became Goltry & Bean. A little later Sioux Rapids parties became interested and the firm was again changed. this time to Farmer. Helsell, Thompson & Goltry. This unwieldy partnership name was in August. 1892, changed to The First National Bank of Marathon, with J. P. Farmer as president, F. II. Helsell as vice president and S. T. Goltry as cashier. Mr. Goltry continued in this position until 1900 when he removed to Enid, Oklahoma. J. E. AAllison succeeded him as cashier and fills that position now. ITis as- sistant is Joel E. Johnson.
On September 21, 1891, the Marathon Savings Bank was opened for busi- ness with A. J. Wilson and M. E. De Wolf in charge. Mr. DeWolf a little later went to Laurens to engage in the grain business and A. J. Wilson became the active manager, with W. W. Bennett as assistant cashier. Mr. Bennett was advanced to the position of cashier a little later and still holds that position. In 1903 Mr. Wilson sold his stock to E. B. Wells and went to Boone where he incorporated the Boone National Bank. He later went to Sioux City where he organized the City National, but in 1906 he removed to Spokane, Washington to engage in the lumber business. The present management of the bank is E. B. Wells, president ; M. Hakes, vice president ; W. W. Bennett, cashier.
Both of these institutions enjoy the confidence of the community and do a lucrative business.
Marathon has been a good business point at all times, and the mercantile establishments are representative of the town. Of the existing firms the Scandia Trading Company, with N. M. Nelson as manager, has been doing business for twenty years. Richard Olney organized the Farmers co-operative store when the co-operative idea was strong in the early '90s and conducted it for many years with profit to the stockholders. He retired and was succeeded by his sons a few years ago. HI. E. Swope and Rasmussen Brothers are also merchants who have extensive interests.
The farmers have an elevator, a lumber yard and coal yard, run on the co-operative plan. doing a fine business.
In a moral way Marathon has always stood high. There has never been a saloon in the town and every attempt by druggists to secure a permit to sell liquor has been met by such strennous opposition that the courts have invariably
126
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
refused to grant such permits. The town is free from licentiousness and drunkenness, and may be said to be an excellent place to live, and to roar a family.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The school district of Marathon was set off as independent in March, 1893. comprising sections 15. 16, 21. 22 and the east half of section 17, and the east half of section 20. Prior to this time the school had been an ordinary township school. The building that had been used was sold and moved into the country, and a new one of two rooms ererted in town. Closely following the forming of the independent district. a new school board of directors was elected in April. 1893, constituted as follows: A. J. Wilson. N. M. Nelson, C. D. Neville. A corps of teachers was secured composed of Il. E. Crosby, superintendent. Miss Tilla Patton. Miss Lizzie Bell and Miss Ada Frazee.
In 1894 the school building was remodeled; two rooms were added and a new heating apparatus was installed. These repairs amounted to two thousand dollars.
In the spring of 1903 a concurrent action of the boards of the Independent district of Marathon and of Poland township resulted in the centralization of the schools of those places. Districts No. 2. 3. 4, 5, and 8 of Poland township, were added to the Marathon Independent district. The school building then in use was, of course, too small to accommodate the greatly increased number of pupils, so it was torn down during the summer of that year, and the present structure, built of pressed brick, was erected. The value of this building is a little over twenty thousand dollars. The pupils living in the country are brought to school every day in special hacks, established routes being maintained for this purpose. These routes, of which there are six. vary in length, conform- ing to the needs of the community through which they go, and they may be changed at any time at the discretion of the board. The six drivers are at present paid a total of two hundred and nineteen dollars and thirty-three cents every month, varying from thirty-three to forty-five dollars each, according to the length of the route which they drive. It has been usual to have the drivers be one of the older pupils in attendance at school, and if possible living at the further end of the route; he would be in position to start in the morning, and would be home after traversing the route after school. The board experiences no trouble whatever in obtaining the required drivers, thereby overcoming one of the main objections to the centralization of the schools at the beginning. Indeed. the position of driver is beginning to be one sought after by more than one.
The school has a library containing twelve hundred volumes. Manual training is being gradually introduced into the course of study; they have now a quantity of tools which are used for that purpose. Agriculture is also taught as one of the studies of the course.
127
HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
By this nion of the rural schools with the town schools. the pupils in the country can enjoy the same advantages afforded those living in town, and the latter are also benefited by the greater strength given the school by the in- rreased number of pupils brought about by centralization. There is no doubt but the higher advantages are afforded both town and country pupils by this union for systematic education. The Marathon schools have now been con- ducted for six years on the centralized plan, and there has yet been no desire to return to the former system.
The schools have a present enrollment of three hundred and thirty-one. The high school is composed of a four year course, which is fully accredited. The present corps of teachers is constituted as follows: Superintendent. J. 1. Woodruff : principal. M. Gwynn Ward; music, Madge Kepple : Grade teachers : A. Effie Vorhis, Clara Bonath, Hannah Holeton. Emma Miller, Ethel Wichman and Jessie Smith.
The following constitute the present board of directors: A. A. Wells, Z. W. Tremen. C. L. Mehanghlin, J. E. Allison. T. L. Roberts, and A. H. Wessman.
SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The organization of the Swedish Lutheran Church was formed in the store of F. Ekstan. August 22, 1884. by Rev. J. S. Benzon, who was pastor of the > >> Swedish Lutheran Church at what now is Albert City. The following mem- bers were elected its first officers: A. W. Peterson, A. Erickson, and C. A. Carl- berg constituted the deacons, and the board of trustees were C. Anderson and A. Renander; John Lind was secretary.
The society held services in the schoolhouse. until 1886 when they ereeted their own church. a building twenty-four by thirty-six. They have an enroll- ment of one hundred and fifty-seven, communicants one hundred and seventeen. The present officers are as follows, deacons: F. Ekstan. F. O. Danielson, A. G. Englund, and Akey Johnson: Trustees: Amil Peterson. N. M. Nelson, G. Turnwall. and Alfred Swenson. The secretary is Alfred Swenson. F. Ekstan is superintendent of the Sunday school. The Young People's Society: presi- dent. Kasper Turnwall; Secretary, Minnie Johnson. The Ladies' Aid Society has a leader in the pastor. Rev. C. I. Backstrom; the secretary is Mrs. F. O. Danielson, and treasurer. Mrs. N. M. Nelson.
There is a general Bible class which meets every Sunday. Mr. F. O. Danielson is the leader.
The following pastors have served during the history of the church: Rev. J. S. Benzon, who organized the society. continued his charge at the church which is now in Albert City, called the Ljunghed congregation, but he came at intervals to preach in Marathon. He was the minister of the church from its organization until his death in 1889. From this time until 1891 the services of the church were in charge of students, L. J. Fihn. J. E. Holtz, and J. Ekholm successively. Rev. J. E. Holtz was pastor from 1891 to 1892, when Rev. C. L.
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